---
"Running away already? Typical of him," Kakuzu scoffed, watching as Orochimaru fled the scene, vanishing into the distance.
"Sasori, cut him off from the middle!" Kakuzu's deep voice rang out across the battlefield.
From a safe distance, Natsume observed the battle through his telescope, unsurprised. Even Orochimaru, one of the legendary Sannin, was at a disadvantage once Sasori joined the fray. With Kakuzu's raw power and Sasori's deadly puppetry, it was no wonder Orochimaru chose to retreat rather than risk his life.
After all, Orochimaru's obsession with immortality meant he wouldn't sacrifice himself in a losing battle.
Natsume waited for about half an hour, watching Kakuzu and Sasori return empty-handed. As expected, Orochimaru had slipped through their grasp.
"Here's what you wanted," Kakuzu grunted, tossing a storage scroll to Natsume. He didn't mention Orochimaru's escape, likely out of frustration. Kakuzu took pride in his reputation, and allowing a target to escape didn't sit well with him.
"The mission is complete. You can collect your payment at the usual place, the underground black market. We won't be escorting you," Kakuzu added before turning with Sasori, both disappearing into the shadows of Tanchū Street.
Natsume pocketed the scroll with a smile. He respected Kakuzu and Sasori's professionalism—they didn't ask questions; they just completed the job.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Natsume quickly returned to Konoha, delivering the storage scroll to his original body.
Later, in the quiet of his room, Natsume unsealed the scroll and found nine test tubes inside, each containing a mysterious liquid.
Hashirama's cells.
Though he'd never seen them before, the rumors were true—Hashirama's cells possessed terrifying regenerative properties, multiplying endlessly like cancer cells. Without a suitable host, however, they could easily overwhelm the body, turning the recipient into a tree.
Natsume's curiosity was piqued. He decided to experiment and headed to the Konoha orphanage, seeking out Kabuto Yakushi.
"Can you extract a small sample from this?" Natsume asked, presenting one of the test tubes to Kabuto.
Kabuto glanced at the tube. " cells?" he muttered, adjusting his glasses with a calculating look. "Follow me."
They entered a small laboratory within the orphanage, filled with medical equipment where Kabuto and Nono Yakushi often worked. With precise care, Kabuto extracted a sample from the test tube and handed it to Natsume in a syringe.
"Do you have a white rabbit here?" Natsume asked, thinking of a test subject.
"No rabbits, but we have guinea pigs," Kabuto replied, retrieving one from a nearby cage.
Natsume injected the guinea pig with the Hashirama cells. Almost immediately, the creature let out a shriek and writhed in pain as branches burst from its body, transforming it into a small tree.
Kabuto stood frozen, eyes wide in shock. "What… what just happened?" he stammered, staring at the mutated guinea pig.
Natsume smirked at Kabuto's awe. "This is what happens when someone is injected with Hashirama Senju's cells," he explained. "Keep this between us, Kabuto. If word gets out, we won't last long."
Kabuto gulped, his mind racing. He had never witnessed anything like it. This wasn't just a medical experiment—this was the power of the First Hokage.
Natsume knew Kabuto was intelligent, and with time, he could handle something of this magnitude. "These cells can grant the ability to use Wood Release. I need your help developing the technology to transplant them."
Kabuto blinked in disbelief. "You want me to study this?" he asked, doubting his own abilities. "I'm not sure I'm skilled enough."
Natsume placed a reassuring hand on Kabuto's shoulder. "You're more capable than you think. Let's go see Tsunade-nee. She'll show you just how talented you are."
Later, they went to the Senju residence, hoping to consult with Tsunade, but she wasn't home.
Shizune greeted them with a worried expression. "Tsunade-sama is at Konoha Hospital. Orochimaru was found seriously injured at the village gates, and it's causing quite a stir. The Hokage and several others are with her."
Natsume's eyes narrowed in understanding. Orochimaru had fled to Konoha for sanctuary, knowing he couldn't escape both Kakuzu and Sasori for long. He was cunning—he must have calculated that Konoha was his safest bet, even if it meant exposing himself.
By evening, Tsunade returned home. Upon entering, she saw Kabuto with Natsume and immediately recognized Kabuto from when she adopted Natsume. The two seemed close.
"Natsume, who's this friend of yours?" Tsunade asked as she changed into her slippers.
Kabuto bowed immediately. "Tsunade-sama."
Natsume ran up to her, holding her hand with his usual sweet expression. "Sis, I think my friend here has real talent in medical ninjutsu. Could you give him a chance as a disciple?"
Tsunade raised an eyebrow but agreed. "Let's see what you've got."
Nervous but determined, Kabuto stretched out his hands, and a faint green light surrounded them as he activated the Mystical Palm Technique.
Tsunade's eyes widened slightly. "Palm Healing at his age?" she murmured, impressed. Shizune, standing nearby, was equally astonished.
The Mystical Palm technique required advanced chakra control and a deep understanding of medical ninjutsu. For Kabuto to use it so proficiently at such a young age was no small feat.
[Due to your actions, Kabuto Yakushi's fate has changed. You have gained forty-eight Destiny Points.]
[Due to your actions, Karin's fate has changed. You have gained sixty-nine Destiny Points.]
Natsume smiled inwardly as the notifications from the Destiny Ring appeared. Tsunade had clearly decided to take Kabuto as her disciple, further altering his fate.
The future was changing, and Natsume was reaping the rewards.
---
Kabuto Yakushi had been taken in as Tsunade's disciple, but his position was far less favorable compared to Natsume's. While Natsume enjoyed special treatment, Kabuto still resided at the orphanage and seemed destined to stay there for the foreseeable future.
Most of his training in medical ninjutsu came from Shizune since Tsunade had once again succumbed to her gambling habits, spending her days in casinos and losing all her money. This situation made Natsume anxious about reopening the Gunma Company. If Tsunade continued to lose at this rate, they'd soon be out on the streets.
**Early Morning.**
Natsume sent a Wood Clone to attend class in his place, while his real body headed for the Gunma Casino. It had been two days since he'd last seen Uzumaki Ena and Karin, and he wanted to check on them.
The casino was currently under renovation.
According to Natsume's plans, the building would soon become a six-story complex. Each floor would offer different types of games and cater to various spending levels, with the higher floors offering more luxurious services. In Tanchu Street, where most buildings were only two or three stories tall, this six-story casino would stand out, attracting attention and serving as free publicity.
After two weeks of renovation, the first three floors had been completed.
Disguising himself, Natsume made his way to the third floor, approaching a private room. He knocked on the door.
It wasn't long before Uzumaki Ena opened it. The sight of Natsume made her body tense, and she greeted him with a tremor in her voice, "My lord..."
Her encounters with Kakuzu and Sasori had scarred her deeply, leaving her unsure of what the future held. Her wariness was justified.
"How have things been these past few days? Has anyone been giving you trouble?" Natsume asked, noticing her pitiful appearance. Something protective stirred in him, though he also recognized how vulnerable she was—an opportunity he could easily exploit.
"No, my lord," Ena replied, shaking her head. "Everyone has treated me with respect."
Natsume stepped inside, closing and locking the door behind him.
The click of the lock made Ena panic. Did he have... intentions?
Her body stiffened as she braced herself for what might come next. If it was for her daughter, Karin, she would endure it.
But what happened next surprised her. Natsume dispelled his transformation, revealing his true form—a seven-year-old boy.
Ena blinked in disbelief. The fear subsided somewhat. That childish face was far less intimidating than the adult form he had been projecting.
"Allow me to reintroduce myself. I'm Natsume, and I'm seven years old," he said calmly.
Natsume had no qualms about revealing his true form. He could easily control Uzumaki Ena whenever necessary. Despite her Uzumaki lineage, she was still an ordinary person in his eyes, and he knew she wouldn't risk her daughter's safety by defying him.
Even if word of his identity spread, it wouldn't matter. The Gunma Company was under Tsunade's control, and at worst, Hiruzen Sarutobi might hear about it. But what would the Third Hokage do? Probably nothing more than sigh and praise Natsume's cleverness.
Uzumaki Ena, still shocked by the revelation, instinctively covered her mouth. She had never imagined Natsume was just a child. It was much better than dealing with an adult version of him. Surely, he couldn't do anything too terrible at that age, right?
Noticing her shift from fear to confusion, Natsume raised an eyebrow. He pulled out a pen and paper, scribbling a few lines, and handed the document to her.
"Sign at the bottom," he instructed.
Ena hesitated, her eyes widening as she read the paper.
The document declared that Natsume had spent two million ryō to rescue her and Karin. The sum would need to be repaid in full.
"Two million ryō..." she whispered, her voice trembling with disbelief and dread.
Natsume watched her reaction, pleased. Her eyes were filling with tears. It was an enjoyable sight. He felt an odd sense of power and amusement, similar to the phenomenon of "cute aggression"—the strange desire to crush something adorable to balance out overwhelming emotions.
For so long, Tsunade had controlled him with her whims. But here, before Uzumaki Ena, he felt like the one in control. The feeling was thrilling.
"Is this... true?" she stammered, her voice growing faint.
He nodded, and her heart sank, weighed down by despair. There was no way she could ever repay two million ryō.
"I'm not used to looking up when I talk to people," Natsume remarked, waving his hand dismissively.
Understanding his unspoken demand, Ena knelt before him, her voice pleading. "My lord, please! I don't have that kind of money."
Despite being on her knees, she still towered over Natsume due to his young stature. Her facial features were plain, but her body, bearing the proud curves of the Uzumaki lineage, retained its dignity.
Natsume leaned in, resting his head on her shoulder and whispering into her ear, "Read the rest of the contract."
Trembling, Ena scanned the document again, noticing a clause she had overlooked. If she couldn't repay the debt, she could work for Natsume instead.
Relief flooded her. There was a way out after all.
"My lord... I can be useful," she said cautiously, raising her arm. "If you're ever injured, one bite can restore your chakra..."
She was referring to the Uzumaki clan's unique ability to transfer chakra through biting, a rare but useful skill.
Natsume glanced at her arm, noticing faint marks—evidence of previous uses of this ability. Despite the Uzumaki's natural healing powers, she had clearly overexerted herself, and her chakra recovery had slowed.
"Don't worry," Natsume said softly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "I won't waste such a valuable resource."
Ena's face flushed. His touch, despite his young age, felt oddly intimate. She wasn't used to such tenderness.
Natsume continued, "You'll learn sealing techniques. And when she's old enough, your daughter will, too."
The Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques were renowned, and Natsume understood their value. While the village held onto many of these secrets, he had other ways of acquiring forbidden knowledge—like through Orochimaru.
Uzumaki Ena was still processing his words, but Natsume's gentle touch distracted her. He slid his finger across her lips, smiling.
"For now," he said, "focus on taking care of yourself."
Blushing, Ena nodded. Despite everything, Natsume's age made his actions seem more playful than predatory. He was just a child, after all—or so she tried to convince herself.
For Natsume, this was an exercise in control. He felt like a puppet master, pulling strings with ease. It was an exhilarating power, one that must have driven historical figures like Cao Cao to toy with others for their own amusement.
---
(A/N:-Cao Cao, a famous warlord during the late Eastern Han dynasty, was known for his cunning and strategic mind, which often involved manipulation and psychological tactics to outmaneuver rivals. However, his actions were usually driven by political or military objectives rather than amusement.)
----------------------------------------
Get early access to the next 15 chapters by joining my Patreon. Support my work and dive deeper into the story by becoming a member today!
Patreon.com/Shinchan_37